The Gujarat State Election Commission (SEC) today announced that elections for the 1,828 Gram (village) Panchayats across Gujarat would be held on April 8.

The poll result will be declared on April 11.

The notification announcing the commencement of election process will be issued on March 18 while the last date for filing nominations has been fixed on March 23, said State Election Commissioner Varesh Sinha at a press conference in Gandhinagar today.

"Polling on 1,828 gram panchayats across the state will be held on April 8. Voters can exercise their franchise between 8 AM to 5 PM. Re-polling would be held on April 10 if needed. Counting of votes as well as declaration of result will take place on April 11," announced Sinha.

Polls will be held to elect 1,828 sarpanchs and around 16,082 panchayat members across the state, said a release by the Commission.

This is the second major election to gram panchayats within a span of five months in Gujarat. Earlier, polls to elect sarpanchs and panchayat members were held for around 10,300 gram panchayats upon the completion of their five year tenure in December last year.

As per the figures of the state Panchayats Department, there are total 14,017 gram panchayats across the state while the total number of villages stand at 18,584.

Gram panchayat polls are not fought on party symbols, as candidates need to fight in their personal capacity.

In gram panchayat polls, each voter is required to cast two votes, one to elect Sarpanch and another for electing panchayat member for his ward.

According to Sinha, EVM machines having the option of NOTA (None of the Above) will be used for the election process.

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